Shepherd resigns as GHS principal

Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Jennifer Shepherd

Greencastle High School principal Jennifer Shepherd tendered her resignation on Tuesday, Dec. 4, effective immediately.

Greencastle superintendent Lori Richmond confirmed the resignation to the Banner Graphic.

No reason was given for Shepherd's resignation, just eight months after she was hired by the Greencastle School Board and only five months after her duties officially began.

Middle school principal Tamra Walker is set to replace Shepherd at the high school.

In Walker's place, assistant superintendent Dawn Puckett will take over at Greencastle Middle School.

No official action can be taken on the transfers until the school board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 12, but Richmond said her recommendation that the board appoint Walker and Puckett to the new positions will be on next week's agenda.

If approval is made, the administrators will take over their new duties on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Assistant principal Russ Hesler will take care of the principal's duties for the remainder of the semester.

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  • We need to take a reflective, hard look at why this new administrator does not want to stay in our school system. There are too many alarming things happening in our school's administrative practices--specifically surrounding our superintendent and school board. It's time for our superintendent to step down next. No one is thriving, growing, or satisfied under her leadership.

    -- Posted by greencastle1 on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 4:47 PM
  • The Banner Graphic should sit down with this woman after she is away from Greencastle and get "the skinny."

    It's called Journalism..

    -- Posted by conffool on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 5:11 PM
  • I just listened to the recorded message sent by the corporation regarding this situation.

    It is so condescending and negligent for the message to only contain empty promises of "continued success" and supporting students. While those are important concepts, Dr. Richmond is well aware the the community is concerned and worried and growing more so by this most recent announcement.

    Any effective leader knows that concerns and fears must be acknowledged and not swept under the rug. Dr. Richmond only avoids concerns and fears. We need a superintendent who is willing to face the problems and tells us she is openly doing so.

    Greencastle, demand effective, elected leadership for our schools. Our children deserve better.

    -- Posted by greencastle1 on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 5:23 PM
  • It is incredibly sad to continue to watch this school system lose good people. It is also heartbreaking to watch teacher friends fear for their jobs and supervisors who do not respect or appreciate their abilities, professionalism, and dedication to the children of our community. I encourage the school board and especially the superintendent to slow down and remember why you are in the position you are in. This is not about going on a power trip- this is about teaching children and treating teachers with the respect they have earned and well deserve. This community cannot applaud the continued bullying and intimidation happening in our system right now- but they certainly will applaud working toward welcoming schools where teachers are respected and students are valued. I encourage all who wish to have their voices heard- to attend a school board meeting to speak- Wednesday, Dec 12th at 7:30pm- board room in administraion building.

    -- Posted by dirtysocks on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 6:56 PM
  • Has anyone taken a good, hard look at the quality and number of personnel(certified and non-certified) who have left GCSC since the spring of 2012? Another secretary and special education teacher are among the latest to leave in December. Is there a common denominator in those decisions to seek employment ANYWHERE but in this school district? Choose your questions carefully at the next school board meeting, as THEY will not address personnel issues.

    -- Posted by kbmom on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 7:29 PM
  • If these substantial changes in personnel are still pending board approval, then why did all parents get an "official" phone call today stating that the changes had already been decided on? Could it be that the board is merely a rubber stamp for Lori Richmond's latest whim?

    -- Posted by louisvilleslugger on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 8:22 PM
  • I applaud Ms. Shepherd for giving GHS a try. Odds are that she saw a bad situation once she got into the position and decided to cut her losses. Our community should be thankful that Mrs. Walker is willing to step up help out in this difficult situation.

    -- Posted by louisvilleslugger on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 8:43 PM
  • There is a petition to get rid of Dr. Richmond circulating on Facebook. We also need to get a petition to have an ELECTED school board. Some of them may be very worthy of being elected but can't guarantee that. There are a few of her puppets that wouldn't get my vote!!!!! Parents of GCCS when is enough, enough?????

    -- Posted by mother of 3 on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 8:44 PM
  • too much powere to the wrong people - Greencastle parents- we have to stand up for our kids before we have no school for them to go to

    -- Posted by talkymom3 on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 9:01 PM
  • The current supertindent was not qualified for the job when hired by the board. Did no one read her bio?

    There were many qualified applicants with real experience that were passed up because the board was side tracked by her bringing cookies to her interview? Yes.

    Talented and dedicated teachers and other staff are leaving as soon as they have the opportunity. The board needs to fire Dr. Richmond and hire someone capable of doing the job before there are no teachers left in GC.

    -- Posted by makingadifference on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 9:13 PM
  • I cannot imagine the numbers when tallied of the good quality people we have lost and will continue to lose. This does not prove "success" for our students! We may not elect the school board YET, but we are the taxpayers who pay our hard earned dollars to our schools so by gosh they DO answer to us! The school board cannot continue to overlook this malice!

    The teachers and staff are afraid to speak because they could lose their job! This is not a safe environment for anyone. CHANGE has to happen and it has to be us, the community who speaks up. We must make a presence at the school board meeting next Wednesday. Write to our newspapers and radio stations, even Call 6 again for HELP! I also saw that there is an online petition here:

    https://www.change.org/petitions/greencastle-school-board-dr-lori-richmond-we-as...

    SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE FOR OUR SCHOOL CORP!

    -- Posted by Greencastle7 on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 9:16 PM
  • This is another black eye for the school board. For example 1. how many GHS principals in the past 4 years? 2. No current GHS guidance counselors with more than 5 months experience. 3. teachers openly frustrated with low morale AND trying to teach our kids 4. $2,000,000 in checks laying around un-deposited. 5 Athletic director plucked/hired off the school board with no prior experience. 6. caught violating the open door policy. 7 and there are more . . . so sad!

    -- Posted by befree2think on Wed, Dec 5, 2012, at 10:42 PM
  • The more detailed information, as promised above, has been printed. Check out today's BG article.

    -- Posted by kbmom on Thu, Dec 6, 2012, at 10:54 AM
  • Did anyone (board members) ever think that a local MIGHT ACTUALLY BE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB? A "local" would know this community, know the families, the kids, therefore would have no problem. A "local" would know when a child was having problems, be able to help. That "local" wouldn't be afraid to talk to the parents. So far these "outsiders" aren't doing a very good job of running "our" school (s). Our teachers are local and they've been teaching for a VERY LONG time, so the local theory is really quite ingenious, don't you think?

    -- Posted by putcocvb on Fri, Dec 7, 2012, at 8:41 AM
  • The untenable has now become alarming. It is high time we decided to have an elected school board. There are no guarantees that an elected board would be better. But it would not, IMHO, be worse. Too many good people are being lost and our kids and grandkids suffer. Ms Richmond needs a few lessons in how to gain humility to replace arrogance. The school board members need to decide if they have the smarts to do a proper job. If they have the smarts, then something should have been done about this alarming trend many moons ago.

    -- Posted by gadsden on Sun, Dec 9, 2012, at 9:09 PM
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